Combined door check and closer.



N0. 693,588. Patented Fob. l8, I902.

E.CL|FF. COMBINED 000R CHECK AND CLOSER.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1901.)

3 sheets-sheet I.

(No Model.)

. INVENTOR Edward 0569*,

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. l8, I902. E. CLIFF.

COMBINED DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1901.)

3 Sheots-Sheet 2.

fi WIT. 2 Julmmu 1 w mm |i1inul1w H w W w1|"|l w a M B illlllilillll llHl' ML (No Model.)

m J mmmm llll No. 693,588. Patented Feb. I8, 1902.

E. CLlFF. CCMBINED 000B CHECK AND CLOSER.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1901.)

(No Model.)

3.5heats-Sheet 3.

INVENTOR CATTQRNEY Edward 0m llNiTnn STATES PATENT @FFICE.

EDXVARD CLIFF, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

COMBINED DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

SPEQIFXQdTION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 693,588, dated February 18, 1902.

Application filed August 20,1901. Serial No. 72,636, (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD CLIFF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Door Check and Closer, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in combined door checks and closers; and it consists in the novel features, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The door check and closer of myinvention may be applied to either right'hand doors or left-hand doors without change in its parts and may also be duplicated for application to double-acting doors.

The door check and closer made the subject hereof is intended for application to the adjoining edges of a door and its casing at a pointinterxnediate the ordinary hinges by which the door is hung, the door check and closer being provided with leaves to be socured to the edge of the door and the adjacent edge of the door-casing in the same manner that the leaves of ordinary hinges are applied.

ltis intended that the door check and closer shall be applied at a central point intermediate the two usual hinges of the door; but, if preferred, the door check and closer may be duplicated for a door and the two door checks and closers used as substitutes for the ordinary hinges, the door then being hung from the door checks and closers.

\Vhen the door check and closer is applied to a double-acting door, it will be duplicated at the opposite sides of the door, and the leaves of the two doorchecks and closers will be secured to the adjacent edges of the door and its casing, so that one of said door checks and closers will operate when the door is opened in one direction and the other of said door checks and closers will be brought into operation when the door is opened in the opposite direction.

The door check and closer in its simpler form will comprise a vertically-arranged casing containing the closing-spring, a verticallyarranged casing constituting a liquid-cylinder, a vertical spindle passing centrally through said casings, apiston within the liquid-cylinder, a threaded stem within and rigid with the liquid-cylinder for effecting the vertical movement of the piston, a leaf connected with both of said casings and adapted to be secured to the door or its casing, and a leaf connected with the said spindle and adapted to be secured to the door or its casing. When the leaf connected with the said casings is secured to the frame of the door and the leaf connected with the spindle is secured to the edge of the door, the door when opened will turn the said spindle within the said casings,

with the result of winding up the spring and elevating the piston, and when the door is closed the spindle will receive a reverse rotation and the piston will be caused to descend against the checking liquid. When the leaf connected with the casings forming the spring-chamber and liquid-cylinder is secured to the door and the leaf connected with the spindle is secured to the door-casing, the movement of the door in the opening direction will turn the said casings upon the said spindle and wind up the spring and elevate the piston, while when the door is moving to its closed position the said casings will receive a reverse rotation, the spring then acting as the closing-spring and the piston being compelled to descend against the checking liquid.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a central vertical longitudinal section through a door check and closer constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a detached top view of the guide for the piston. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of same on the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a detached top View of the piston. Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of same on the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detached bottom View of the top cap of the structure and utilized in connection with the means for regulating and controlling the tension of the closing-spring. Fig. '7 is a top View of the door check and closer illustrated as applied to a double-acting pantry-door, the door and its casing being indicated in section. Fig. 8 isadetached front elevation of the door check and closer adapted for a double-acting door. Fig. 9 is being omitted and the door and its casingbeing shown in horizontal section. Fig. 11 is a vertical section of same on the dotted line 11 11 of Fig. 10, the section extending merely through the door-casing. Fig. 12 is a vertical section of same on the dotted line 12 12 of Fig. 10, the section extending merelythrough the door; and Fig. 13 is a vertical section through a portion of the leaves of the door check and closer on the dotted line 13 13 of Fig. 11.

When the door check and closer of my invention is applied to adouble-acting door, it will comprise two connected sets of appara tus, each consisting of a casing 20, containing theclosing-spring 21, a casing 22 to contain the liquid, a piston 23, and a central actuating-spindle 24, with cooperating devices hereinafter explained, and when the door check and closer is applied to a single-acting door it will comprise but one set of said apparatus.

The door check and closer as applied to a double-acting door is shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, and as applied to a single-acting door is illustrated in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, taken in connection with the detailed illustrations presented in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive.

In the drawings, referring to Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, 25 designates the door-casing and 26 a double-acting door, and 27 and 28 denote the-door check and closer as applied to the double-acting door 26, the door-check and closer being. duplicated at opposite sides of the said door, and the apparatus 27 being a duplicate of the apparatus desigated by the numeral 28, and each apparatus beingin itself a door check and closer embracing a part of my invention.

The-detailed construction of the door check and closer (designated by either the numeral 27' or 28) is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, and the said door check and closer comprises the cylindrical casing 20, containing the spring 21, the vertical casing 22, constituting a cylinder, the piston 23 within the casing 22, the spindle 24, and cooperating devices. The casing 20 is vertical and cylindrical, and through it the spindle 24 passes. The casing 20 is closed at its upper end by a screw-cap 29, having a central opening to receive and permit the axial rotation of the sleeve 30, which closely fits upon the spindle 24 and extends from above the cap 29 to the lower end of the casing 20, as shown in Fig. 1. The sleeve 30 contains a vertical recess 31 to receive the inner hooked end of the spring 21, and the inner vertical Wall of the casing 20 contains a vertical recess 32 to receive the outer hooked. end of the spring 21 in a well-known manner. The upper end of the sleeve'3O carries a ratchet-wheel 33, by

which, in connection with a suitable wrench, the sleeve 30 may be turned to wind or un wind the spring 21 for adjusting the tension of the latter. The sleeve 30 contains a smooth central bore, so that it may turn upon the spindle 24. Upon the upper end of the casing 20, above the cap 29, is applied the cap 38, which contains a polygonal central opening 34 to pass upon and engage the polygonal upper end 35 of the spindle 24, and said cap is detachably secured in position upon the said upper end of the spindle 24 by means of a washer 36 and screw 37. The cap 38, by reason of its engagement with the polygonal upper end of the spindle 24, is incapable of rotation except with said spindle. The inner vertical walls of the cap 38 are recessed to match the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 33, so that said cap may engage said ratchet-wheel and serve to lock the same to the actuatingspindle 24, whereby when the spindle 24 is turned axially the cap 38, ratchet-wheel 33, and sleeve 30 may rotate with it. The cap 38 is also utilized for holding the spring 21 at such adjustment as to its tension as may be imparted to it. In adjusting the tension of the spring 21 the cap 38 is moved upward from the spindle 24, and the ratchet-wheel 33 is turned, by means of a wrench, so as to wind or unwind through the sleeve 30 the spring 21, and when the spring 21. has reached its proper tension the cap 38 is restored to the ratchet-wheel 33 and spindle 24 and serves to lock said ratchet-wheel against rotation. The wrench for turning the ratchet-wheel 33 will simply be a thin hook-shaped wrench and less in thickness than the depth of the ratchet wheel 33, so that when the wheel 33 has been turned to the proper extent the cap 38 may be partly restored to position without removing said wrench, the wrench being left in engagement with the ratchet-wheel 33 until the cap 38 has been moved downward upon the upper portion of said wheel and the lower part of the polygonal opening 34 has passed upon the upper polygonal end 35 of the spindle 24, whereupon the wrench may be removed from the ratchet-wheel 33 and the cap 38 pressed down upon the upper surface of the cap 29.

The casing 20 is designed to inclose the spring 21, sleeve 30, and upper portion of the spindle 24, and the interior of said casing 20 constitutes a spring-chain her, which is wholly inner walls and closed at its upper end by ascrew-cap 39, substantially corresponding with the cap 29 on the upper end of the casing 20. The casing 22 is in vertical line with the casing 20, and the lower end of the spindle 24 passes through a central opening in the cap 39 and enters the liquid chamber or cylinder to a snfficient extent to receive the upper or hub end of the guide for the piston 23, as shown in Fig. 1.

The guide 40 comprises the hub 41, secured to the lower end of the spindle 24 by means of a screw 42, and the downwardly-depending legs 43 43, which in cross-section are preferably curved or on the are of a circle, as denoted by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The guide 40 is rigid with the spindle 24 and independent of the casing 22, and said guide 40 has no movement except with the spindle 24.

The piston 23 has tapered outer walls corresponding with the taper of the inner walls of the casing or cylinder 22, and said piston 23 contains the internally-threaded hub 44 and vertical sockets 45, said sockets 45 receiving the legs 43 of the guide 40 and said hub 44 being adapted to receive the threaded stem 46, whose lower end is rigidly secured to the lower end of the casing 22 and whose upper end is centrally below the lower end of the spindle 24. The stem 46 is rigid with the casing 22, and the guide 40 is rigid with the spindle 24, and hence when the casing 22 is turned axially the stem 46 will compel a vertical movement of the piston 23 upon the legs 43 of the guide 40, and when the casing 22 is stationary and the spindle 24 in motion the guide 40 will compel the rotation of the piston 23 upon the stem 46, with the result that said piston will move vertically. When the door is in its closed position, the piston 23 will be in its lower position, (shown in Fig. 1,) and as the door opens the piston 23 will ascend upon the legs 43 of the guide 40. The casing or cylinder 22 will be supplied with a suitable liquid, such as oil or a mixture of glycerine and alcohol, as customary in this art, and the piston 23 will be provided with ball valves 47 and vertical ports 48 of known construction in this art for permitting a free downflow of the liquid during the upward motion of the piston 23, while. during the downward motion of the piston 23 the ballvalves 47 will close the ports 48 and compel the liquid within the lower portion of the cylinder 22 to find its escape upward around the outer walls of the piston. The descent of the piston 23 during the closing of the door is to retard the movement of the door, and hence during the downward motion of the piston 23 the balls 47 close the ports 48 in order that the flow of the liquid from below the piston 23 may be restricted The casings 20 and 22 are separated from one another by means of a sleeve 49, which has a polygonal bore to receive the polygonal portion 50 of the spindle 24, said sleeve 49 being thus keyed to said spindle and having no rotation except with said spindle. The sleeve 49 is independent of the casings 20 and 22 and may rotate with the spindle 24,while said casings 2O and22 remain stationary, and the casings 20 and 22 may rotate around the spindle 24,while said spindle and the sleeve 49 remain stationary.

Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, illustrate all of the details of the door check and closer, with the exception of the means for applying the same to the door and its casing, and these means will vary somewhat, in accordance with whether the door check and closer is to be applied to a single-acting door or to a doubleacting door. In Figs. 7, 8, and 9 I illustrate the door check and closer as applied to a double-acting door, there being in this instance two sets of the apparatus 27 28, each beinga duplicate of the other. Upon reference to Figs. 7, 8, and 9 it will be seen that the easings 20 and 22 of the apparatus numbered 27 are each provided with a leaf 51, these leaves 51 being cast with the casings 20 and 22 and being provided with ordinary screw-holes for the reception of the screws 52, by which the said leaves 51 are securely fastened to the edge of the door 26. The casings 20 and 22 of the apparatus numbered 28 are likewise each provided with a leaf 53, these leaves 53 being cast integrally with the casings 20 and 22 of the apparatus 28 and corresponding exactly with the leaves 51 of the casings 20 and 22 of the apparatus 27. The leaves 53 are provided with suitable screw-holes to receive the screws 54, by which the said leaves 53 are securely fastened to the door-casing 25.

The leaves 51 53 at their middle portions intermediate the casings 20 and 22, are recessed, as shown in Fig. 9, to lap upon the bar or leaf 55, which connects and is integral with the sleeve 49 of the apparatus 27 and the sleeve 49 of the apparatus 28 and is not directly connected either with the door 26 or door-casing 25.

The door check and closer,whether applied, as shown in Fig. 7, in duplicate to a doubleacting door or singly, as shown in Fig. 10, to a single-acting door, is the same in construction, with the exception of the arrangement of the leaves 51 53 and bar 55, and in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, I illustrate the form of the leavesfor a single-acting door.

In Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, the casings 20 and 22 are cast integrally with the leaves 60, the same being lapped together at their adjoining edges to constitute one leaf, as shown in 13, these leaves being in separate pieces, because of the fact that the casings 20 and 22 are in separate castings. When the door check and closer is in condition to be applied, the leaves 60 at their overlapping edges will be securedtogether, and the said leaves then constituting one leaf will be secured by screws to the door-casing 61, as shown in Fig. 10. The sleeve 49, for a single-acting door, will be cast with the leaf 62, as shown in Fig. 12, which will be secured to the edge of the door 63, Fig. 10, by means of suitable screws, the leaf 62 then being fastened to the door, and the leaves 60 to the door-casing.

Nhen the door check and closer is applied to a double-acting door, (reference beinghad to Fig. 7,) the door 26 when opened in the direction of the apparatus 27 will, operating the piston 23.

- close, the spring 21 will operate as a closing- 30 approaches its lower position.

5 that it is keyed with the transverse bar 55.

The turning of the casings 2O 22 will effect the winding of the spring 21 of the apparatus 27 and the ascent of the piston 23 upon the threaded stem 46, the liquid above said pisxo ton finding ready passage to the space below the piston. During this turning of the casing 22 (during the opening of the door) the stem 46 being rigid with said casing will have an axial motion and efiect the ascent of When the door is released to spring, and the casings 2O 22 will perform a reverse rotation upon the central spindle 24, with the result that the threaded stem 46 will cause the piston 23 to descend against the liq- 25 the ball-valves 47 will close the ports48, and

the upwardly-escaping liquid will be compelled to travel around the outer walls of the piston 23, the passage of the liquid being more and more restricted as the piston 23 During the opening and closing of the door the piston 23 will be prevented from rotating with the casing 22 by reason of the engagement of said piston with the legs 43 of the guide 40, said guide remaining stationary at such time.

When the door 26 is opened in a reverse direction or toward the apparatus numbered 28, said door will, through the leaves 51, carry the apparatus 27 with it, and this will result in the movement of the bar 55 with the door,

24 of the apparatus 28, the casings 20 and 22 of said apparatus 28 at such time remaining stationary. The rotation of the spindle 24 of the apparatus 28 during such opening of the door results in the winding of the spring ,5o -2 l and through the rotation of the guide 40 the rotation of the piston 23 around the stem 46 and the consequent elevation of said piston. When the door is released to close, the spring 21 will act as a closing-spring, and the spindle 24 and guide 40 will perform a reverse rotation, causing the piston 23 to descend against the checking liquid. 7

With reference to the door check and closer shown in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, it has been described that the leaves 60 are secured to the door-casing 61 and the leaf 62 is fastened to the door 63, and under such condition when the door 63 is opened the leaf 62,acting through the sleeve 49, will turn the spindle 24 Within 65 the casings 2O 22, with the result that the spindle 24 will wind up the spring 21, and through the guide 40 turn the piston 23 upon the threaded stem 46, and thereby effect the ascent of said piston upon the legs 43. When the door 63 is released to close, the spring 21 will effect the closing of the door and a reverse movement of the spindle 24, said spindie 24 and guide 40 then causing the piston 23 to perform a reverse rotation around the threaded stem 46 and to descend against the checking liquid. An important feature of the apparatus is that it may be applied to either right or left hand doors without change, and this characteristic may be understood if it is considered that the leaf 62 (in Fig. 10) is applied to the door-casing and the leaves 60 to the door, under which condition during the opening of the door the leaves 60 would turn the casings 2O 22 upon the spindle 24 for the purpose of'winding the spring 21 and eifecting the ascent of the piston 23. Upon the release of the door the spring 21 will operate as a closing-spring for the door and the piston 23 will be moved downward against the checking liquid at the lower end of the casing 22. The door check and closer is thus applicable for either right-hand doors or lefthand doors, no change in the structure, such as a reversal of the spring, being required, since during the opening and closing of the door either the spindle 24 or the casings 20 and 22 may be relied uponfor operating the spring 21 and piston 23.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A door check and closer comprising the casing 20 affording a spring-chamber, the spring therein, the casing 22 alfording a cylinder for the checking liquid, the piston within said cylinder, and the spindle operatively connected with said spring and said piston, combined with leaves for securing the opposing sections of the apparatus to the adjacent vertical portions of the door and itsjamb with said spindle on the pivot-line of the door, whereby during the opening and closing of the door that section of the apparatus connected with the door will be compelled to rotate and thereby effect the movement of said piston; substantially as set forth.

2. A door check and closer comprising the casing 20 affording a spring-chamber, the spring within said chamber, the casing 22 affording a cylinder for the checking liquid, the threaded stem Within and rigid with said cylinder, and the piston within said cylinder and having a threaded bore to engage said threaded stem, combined with the spindle extending into said casings and connected with said spring, the guide connected with said spindle and, by a sliding union, with said piston, and means for securing said casings and spindle to the door and door-casing respectively, said means comprising leaves extending from said casings and spindle and adapted for disposal intermediate the edges of the door and its cas-- ing or frame; substantially as set forth.

3. A door check and closer comprising the rotary casing 20 affording a spring-chamber,

the spring therein, the rotary casing 22 affording a cylinder for the checking liquid, the piston within said cylinder, and means operatively connecting said piston with said cylinder wherebyduring and due to the axial turnin g of said cylinder the said piston maybe operated, combined with the spindle connected with said spring, and the leaves connected with said casings and spindle; substantially as set forth.

at. A door check and closer comprising the casing 20 affording a springchamber, the spring within said chamber, the casing 22 atfording a cylinder for the checking liquid, the threaded stem within and rigid with said cylinder, and the piston within said cylinder and having a threaded bore to engage said threaded stem, combined with the spindle extending into said casings and connected with said spring, the guide connected with said spindle and, by a sliding union, with said piston, the sleeve connected with said spindle intermediate said casings, the leaf rigid with said sleeve, and the leaf rigid with said casings; substantially as set forth.

5. A door check and closer comprising the vertical casing 20 affording a spring-chamber, the spring therein, the vertical casing 22 affordinga cylinder for the checkingliquid, and the vertically-acting piston within said cylinder, combined with the spindle extending into said casings and connected with said spring, the leaves connected with said casings and spindle, and means operatively connecting said spindle with said piston whereby during and due to the axial turning of said spindle the said piston may be operated in a vertical direction; substantially as set forth.

6. A door check and closer comprising the casing 20 affording a spring-chamber, the spring within said chamber, the casing 22 affording a cylinder for the checking liquid, and the piston within said cylinder, combined with the spindle extending into said casings and connected with said spring, means operatively connecting said cylinder, piston and spindle whereby upon the axial turning of either said cylinder or spindle said piston will be compelled to operate, and leaves secured to said casings and spindle and adapted for connection with the door and its casing; substantially as set forth.

7. A door check and closer for double-acting doors comprising the casings 20, 22, for each side of the door and respectively forming the spring-chambers and liquid -cylinders, the springs within said chambers, the pistons within said cylinders, and the spindles extended into said casings, the casings at one side of the door being capable of axial rotation upon their spindle, and the spindle at the other side of the door being capable of axial turning within its casings, which are stationary when in use, combined with means connected with the rotary cylinder for compelling the operation of its piston, means connected with the rotary spindle for compelling the operation of its piston, the securing-leaves connected with said casings at each side of the door, and the leaf connecting said spindles and being independent of said securing-leaves and said casings; substantially as set forth.

8. A door check and closer comprising an apparatus affording a spring-chamber and liquid-cylinder, the spring within said chamber, and the piston within said cylinder, combined with the spindle operatively connected with said piston, the sleeve on said spindle within said spring-chamber and to which said spring is connected, the recessed wheel on the upper end of said sleeve, the removable cap keyed upon the upper end of said spindle and adapted to cover and engage said recessed wheel, and means for connecting said spindle and said apparatus to the door and door-casing respectively; substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 15th day of August, A. D. 1901.

EDWARD CLIFF.

Witnesses:

OHAs. G. GILL, GUNIDER GUNDERSON. 

